Morning from a really moist and windy Dublin.
Soccer is again and we face Nottingham Forest at dwelling. On paper not probably the most difficult recreation we may have had, however given their type to date this season (and maybe ours), undoubtedly not a foregone conclusion by any means. Mikel Arteta was surprisingly forthcoming in regards to the health of his gamers yesterday, and there was excellent news and a smattering of dangerous as he supplied updates.
Primarily based on what he mentioned, it appears as if we’ll have Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori all out there at this time. All of them educated, to various levels, and the supervisor sound fairly constructive about their involvement. I additionally thought he was fairly attention-grabbing on Martin Odegaard who, after taking part in 96 minutes in his first recreation again, had a little bit of a response. Arteta mentioned:
After such a very long time not taking part in he wanted time to get better. The ankle reacted and different areas of the physique with a lot load going into it. It wasn’t perfect, however he’s been OK, the final day and a half he’s educated with the staff and he’s feeling good, in order that’s actually constructive.
I don’t assume it’s in any respect sudden that it took loads out of him. To go from 0 to 100 on his first recreation again wasn’t perfect, however as we now go right into a interval of the season with a recreation each three or 4 days, it’s going to be necessary that we handle his load fairly fastidiously. That mentioned, I count on him to begin at this time, and it wouldn’t shock me to see us line up as follows: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz.
There are potential tweaks in fact, however as I wrote yesterday, I feel a slight shift within the midfield stability is price making an attempt, and at this time looks like a good day to offer {that a} go. At dwelling in opposition to a staff that can sit deep, deny us house, and look to hit us on the counter, I don’t assume you want a facet with each Rice and Thomas Partey. And whereas I don’t assume you possibly can classify Mikel Merino as an attacking participant per se, he does have the power to get into the field, the timing of his runs into the world is usually good, he offers an aerial risk in there too.
That leaves the supervisor with choices from the bench, ought to he want to vary issues within the second half, however nonetheless we go about it at this time, three factors are a should. We’re again at dwelling, and the supervisor was clear about what’s required:
It’s about constructing momentum, getting outcomes and getting back-to-back wins. That might once more create the vitality that we want with the entire good issues that we’re doing. Tomorrow and after each break, and particularly we’re going to get into the Christmas interval, we all know that there’s something particular in that interval and you need to generate that momentum. We really feel that it’s the proper second now for us to begin.
As for the opposition, they’re flying excessive to date this season. Chris Wooden has scored as many as Mo Salah, and with gamers like Anthony Elanga, Calum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White, they’ve loads of tempo and direct working, significantly on the counter. So, how we handle these moments of transition might be key, in addition to making an attempt to interrupt down a reasonably cussed defence. Forest have the second greatest defensive document by way of targets conceded to date this season, and we’ve struggled just a little bit in the case of scoring (though with 18 targets we’re simply 3 behind leaders Liverpool, so it’s not as dangerous because it has felt).
An early aim for us at this time can be perfect. I don’t assume it’s the case it could make Forest go gung-ho, however they’d have to return out a bit at some stage, and hopefully that may simply give us the house we want for extra.
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. Don’t neglect the preview podcast is obtainable proper now on Patreon. Be part of us later for reside weblog protection, plus you’ll get the match report, aim clips, response, participant scores and way more over on Arseblog Information.
Come on you reds!
